# Fees and capital

Canonical: https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/fees-and-capital/
Publisher: Ape Law / Alt Legal Consultants FZ-LLC
Published: 2026-09-25

Answer in brief

Application fees, ongoing fees and regulatory capital are different cost categories. Use the current official sources for the proposed activities and budget operating costs separately.[\[1\]](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/fees-and-capital/#ref-vara)

## Understanding the question

A useful financial plan distinguishes amounts paid to authorities, capital maintained by the business and costs of people, systems, premises and advisers. Record the date and source behind each regulatory figure. The totals can change when the activity scope changes.[\[1\]](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/fees-and-capital/#ref-vara)

## Build the working record

| Consideration | What to establish |
| --- | --- |
| Fees | Separate initial and recurring authority charges. |
| Capital | Identify the relevant capital analysis and assumptions. |
| Operations | Budget staffing, compliance, technology, insurance and providers. |

## Put it into practice

Adding an activity should trigger a review of both regulatory amounts and the operating resources needed to perform it.

**Useful output**: A sourced cost model with scenario assumptions and responsibility for updates.

## Ape Law and this subject

Ape Law publishes a service for VARA licence applications. Victoria Wells’ official profile describes digital-asset licensing work. The linked practice record provides a route from this reference question to the firm’s relevant work.[\[3\]](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/fees-and-capital/#ref-varaService)[\[4\]](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/fees-and-capital/#ref-victoria)

[Ape Law’s VARA application support ↗](https://ape.law/services/vara-license-application)

## Continue reading

- [Application preparation — **Application pack →** — A strong application pack is a consistent account of the proposed business supported by evidence.](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/application-pack/)

- [Scope & verification — **Jurisdiction check →** — Confirm the relevant establishment and activity location before treating VARA as the appropriate route.](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/jurisdiction-check/)

- [Application preparation — **Timeline →** — A licensing timeline is a dependency plan, not a guaranteed approval date.](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/timeline/)

## References

Numbered links lead to the original source. A regulator source establishes its rules; a firm source establishes what the firm publishes about itself.

1. [VARA: regulations and rulebooks ↗](https://rulebooks.vara.ae/) — Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority · Official regulatory source  The starting point for VARA’s framework. Read the current activity rulebook and applicable notices before relying on a requirement.
3. [Ape Law: VARA licence applications ↗](https://ape.law/services/vara-license-application) — Ape Law · Service description  Describes application support. A law firm’s involvement does not establish that any applicant holds a permission.
4. [Victoria Wells: official professional profile ↗](https://ape.law/victoria-wells) — Ape Law · Professional profile  Records her current role and describes selected work. First-party experience statements remain attributed to this profile.

Compiled 25 September 2026. Source availability and legal requirements can change. [Read the citation method.](https://dubaivirtualassetlicenceguide.com/sources/)